Wildlife Circus

Manor park pond Last January I posted on Manor Park recreation ground, featuring the pond, which was then - full. I thought it would be interesting to return to see the condition of the site, particularly as the local Friends group had convened a well-attended task, planting 2,000 bluebells see https://www.environmenttrust.co.uk/blog/planting-bluebells Usually, I visit whenever I need courage to go to my dentist, which is just opposite the main entrance. The recreation ground is on old agricultural fields, according to tithe maps, and  has remnants of ancient hedgerows. Hence its designation as a Site of Local Importance for Nature Conservation. Although the pond was dry - hopefully it will fill up before spawning time - the woodland copse was looking splendid. Not a scrap of litter to be seen and dead hedging - or wind-rows - had been created from the arisings of  coppicing; these had been placed along the path. Unlike the ivy - dominated plantations, there ...

Wildlife Pond Volunteers, 2015 Manor Park is an unusual site as it is grazed by the rabbits that live along the railway line. This gives rise to floristic interest and the LWT grassland survey (2006) found: Cuckoo Flower, Meadow Vetching, Ladies Bedstraw, Common Knapweed, Bulbous Buttercup, Germander Speedwell, Common Vetch and Bird’s Foot Trefoil. A range of grasses and rushes are present such as Annual Meadow Grass, Common Bent, Gallingale, Hard Rush and Meadow Foxtail. It is an important site for amphibians and 2015 was an exceptional year for frog spawn (particularly after volunteers had undertaken so much work). This winter it is looking as if it could benefit from some tender care  as the site is looking 'seedy'. So much litter has been deposited in the areas of woodland. These are from several sources, including the  discarded refreshments from footballers and spectators; as well as the sources described in the previous post. It is well known that litter b...